Delays Upon Delays and A Preview

So, unfortunately I ironed out my health care coverage only to now have to put out another fire. My mother, who you will recall is 80 whom I take care of, had her wallet stolen on Friday. This means I had to spend a large part of last night to protect our bank accounts and her identity. On Monday, I will be spending time in two different government offices to replace her IDs and note they have been stolen.

I'll see how much more time it cuts into things but it has slowed down my finishing the next short story and the artwork. I'm still working but I'm not sure how much I'll get through before Monday. I'm pretty sure I'll be getting all of this done by Wednesday/Thursday of next week and finally be able to move on to finishing my business office/internet set-up.

I'll keep you all posted, but I won't be putting out as much fan material as I had hoped this month.

Of Tea and Discord: Bending the Dimensions Preview

So, I thought I'd post the part of the first draft that I have finished of the next short story in the series. Remember this is from the unedited first draft so sorry for errors.

Fluttershy smiled as the warm breeze gently caressed her cheeks. She loved the springtime the most of all other times of year. Specifically, this particular time of year was the best of the best.

“So Fluttershy…”

The pony cracked her left eye open and regarded the owner of the voice. Discord lay, semi-recumbent on the checkered blanket propping his head up with his tail, picking tufts off of a dandylion.

“Yes?”

“I know I said it was your turn to choose something to do last time but this is boring. Why can’t I do something to liven things up?” The draconequus blew on the dandylion making the airborne white tufts explode into confetti and miniature fireworks.”

“You might scare the birds away and then it would disrupt their natural nesting grounds! No you must not even think that way. When all of the birds get here things will liven up.”

“What if the birds don’t get here today though?”

“Well, the Pegasi scheduled bringing in the warm trade winds today. The birds always follow and then they come here to build their nests and start their families.”

Discord sat up and crossed his arms. “Yes, I forgot you ponies make everything so orderly.”

Fluttershy frowned. “I’m sorry Discord. If it really is that unpleasant for you then you can go. I suppose I should have expected you wouldn’t like this. If nopony else wants to watch the birds arrive with me, then why would you?”

Discord felt a very odd feeling looking at the pony as she dropped her ears and slide down onto the blanket. The gnawing feeling in his gut was something he was unaccustomed to and yet it had been happening more often when he was around Fluttershy. Ordinarily, he would have snapped his claws and gone off to another activity he actually liked without a care but that was something that had become increasingly harder to do the better he knew Fluttershy.

“Why do you look so glum, Dear? I said I found waiting boring not this activity parse. If perhaps we had some conversation, shared some tea then the waiting might not be so bad. Its hard to talk to you though when your head turns to stare up into the sky every time the breeze rustles the leaves hoping the little birds have finally arrived.”

The pony raised her head and looked up at her companion’s earnest expression. She was surprised that he still was there. “I have been doing that haven’t I?” She looked forlornly at the cold cup of tea and the plate of barely touched cucumber sandwiches ashamed. “I get caught up in my own thoughts too easily. I suppose I’m not a very good friend after all.”

Discord grumbled under his breath. “You know you are quicker than anypony I have ever met to admit to your own failings. Its very aggravating.”

Fluttershy’s eyebrows dipped causing a very deep crease to form on her forehead. “You say that like it isn’t a good thing. Why does it bother you?”

“Frankly, it gives me far less material to work with in getting my own way. I can’t play on your guilt or pride to make you do what I want.”

“That’s not what friends do, Discord. You don’t do things with your friends because you’re forced to, but you do them because you want to. I’m here because I like your company and I wanted to enjoy something with you. If you aren’t enjoying it I won’t make you stay.”

“Are you telling me to leave?”

“Only if you want to, Discord.”

“Well, I don’t want to go. I just want to do something other than staring up at a sky devoid of anything but the color blue.” Discord sat up with a grin. “Maybe if I changed the color!”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“It would upset everypony. Then they would complain to Celestia and they’d want to use the Elements of Harmony on you”

Discord frowned. “What about making the trees float up to meet the birds?”

“That might scare the birds and disrupt their migration patterns.”

“Is there anything that you wouldn’t object to?”

“Well, as long as it didn’t affect anypony other than us I don’t mind your chaos.”

The Draconequus stared at the mare as she smiled angelically up at him. This pony is driving me crazy. What on earth can I do on such a small scale that will be entertaining? Discord coiled himself around the mare the wheels-in-his-head turning at break-neck speed. “So as long as it doesn’t upset the natural order of the world you won’t mind if I do something that affects you?”

Fluttershy dipped her head to the side hiding her face behind her pink locks. “Yes. I-I trust you.”

Its statements like that make it so hard to be devious. “Well, then how about if I shift us into a more interesting dimension? Not one that’s so far removed from this one you won’t know when the birds arrive here, but one different enough to be more entertaining.”